100 Undocumented Workers Arrested In Utah

The INS arrested more than 100 people working at Champion Safe, a safe manufacturing company in Utah. Steve Branch, the Salt Lake City INS officer in charge, said the arrests were the culmination of a long investigation but would not comment on how the INS learned of the workers' immigration violations, which could include visa overstay and illegal entry. Champion Safe declined to comment.

"There are a number of business we could enforce workplace operations on," Branch said, but wouldn't answer as to whether or not the INS had plans for similar raids in the coming weeks.

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Federal Agents Seize Drugs Hidden In Look-a-like Border Patrol Vehicles

Federal agents foiled a drug smuggling scheme at the southern border of Arizona, and seized almost one ton of marijuana, according to an INS press release. The drugs were concealed inside a pair of SUVs decorated to resemble marked Border Patrol vehicles. The two vehicles, emblazoned with the Border Patrol logo, were intercepted early Wednesday morning by Border Patrol and U.S. Customs agents near Palominas, Arizona. Agents arrested the driver of one vehicle, an undocumented Mexican national identified as Martin Lopez Cardenas, 33, of Agua Prieta, Mexico. The second driver fled into the desert, presumably back to Mexico. Cardenas will remain in federal custody pending prosecution on drug smuggling charges.

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Illegal White House Grounds Worker Pleads Guilty

The Mexican illegal immigrant who once worked on the White House grounds pled guilty in a federal court late last week. Salvador Martinez Gonzalez, 30, caused a national uproar last year when it was discovered he had been photographed with former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne.

Martinez was arrested in December when he allegedly provided an INS inspector with a false passport and birth certificate. On Thursday, he pled guilty to using false documents to enter the country. Martinez could face a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, plus a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors informed the court that the government would recommend dropping the illegal entry charge. His sentencing was scheduled for May 1.

For two years Martinez was employed by HDO Productions, Inc., a company that coordinates outdoor events and was contracted by the White House.

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Afghan Man Arrested In Arizona

On Tuesday police arrested an Afghan man who allegedly crossed the border illegally. The man, who speaks English but would not give his name, is in federal custody on immigration-related charges.

Reports say the man flagged down a Tucson police officer and said that he had been kidnapped by two Hispanic men. A police spokesman said there had been a dispute about money and that he likely paid the men to get across the border.

Officials report that more than 99.5 percent of people arrested crossing the border illegally are residents of Central or South America and Canada. The remaining 0.5 percent are citizens of 140 countries worldwide, according to Border Patrol statistics.